Horse Dentistry
Regular and Emergency Dental Care for Horses in Brisbane, Ipswich and Lockyer Valley
Regular dental care is fundamental to your horse’s health, well being and performance.
As your horse’s teeth continue to erupt throughout its life, dental disease and digestive problems can arise without routine dental care.
A dental examination at least once a year will protect your horse against the development of dental disease, which can lead to loss of condition, behavioural problems, long-term ill-health and expensive veterinary bills.
What’s involved in a dental examination?
During a dental examination, we place your horse in a purpose-built crush and use specialised equipment, including a full mouth speculum (gag) and powerfloat. To ensure your horse is comfortable, we may use sedation or analgesics.
We will manually and visually examine your horse’s teeth to check for signs of dental disease, uneven wear, injuries and any other abnormalities. Using a powerfloat, we file your horse’s teeth to remove any sharp enamel points that can cause damage to the tongue and cheeks.
How often should my horse receive a dental examination?
Every horse should receive a dental examination at least once a year.
Foals should receive their first dental at nine months of age, with yearly check-ups until they are 16. Senior horses over 16 years should receive check-ups at least twice yearly.
However, if your horse experiences dental disease or problems at any age, they may require more frequent dental examinations.
Some of the common signs of dental disease include:
- Dull coat, weight loss
- Head shaking, head tossing
- Spilling feed while eating
- Blood in the saliva, blood on the bit
- Excessive saliva production
- Poor appetite, reluctance to eat
- Bad breath, discharge from nostril
- Undigested feed in the manure
- Behavioural problems
- Head tilting during eating, eating slowly
- Facial swelling
- Colic
How long will the dental examination take?
Most dental examinations will take up to 45 minutes. If we find signs of dental disease or your horse requires a tooth extraction, the procedure may take longer.
Where will the dental examination be performed?
Routine dental examinations can be performed at our purpose-built facility or using our mobile crush. If you suspect dental disease in your horse, they may require more intensive treatment at our practice.
Will my horse require any follow-up care?
If your horse receives regular dental care, most dental examinations will involve examining and floating the teeth to remove any sharp enamel points. However, if your horse is showing signs of dental disease, we may need to recommend further treatment.
Why should a veterinarian perform dental examinations?
Only veterinarians are qualified to give your horse sedation and analgesics. Without sedation, it can be difficult to properly examine and treat every tooth. A light sedation will reduce stress, eliminate pain and ensure your horse receives a thorough dental examination.
Your Next Steps
To book your horse’s next dental, call us today on (07) 5411 4554 to speak with a qualified veterinarian. For after hours emergency assistance, call 1300 641 007.
7 Reasons Why Your Horse Needs A Yearly Dental
